Beer cooler



A. L. VOIGHT BEER COOLER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 27, 19.34

wi-zw ily W36. A. L. volGl-IT 2,9%397 BEER COOLER 4 Filed Feb. 27, 19542 sheets-sheet 2 7N VEN Toe.' /44/6057' L. l/o/GHT' {wwwa-luik@ Trae/#EYs Patented Feb. 18, 1936 UNITED `stares PATE GFFICE 11 Claims.

This invention relates to a cooling apparatus for use in the dispensingof beverages such as draft beer and the like.

An object of the invention is'to provide an apparatus of the characterspecied which enables the drawing of properly cooled draft beer whichwill at all-times have the desired life and taste.

Another object is to provide an apparatus of this character whichenables a maximum amount of properly cooled draft beer to be withdrawnin a given period of time whereby increased. demand, such as occursduring rush hours, will be A taken care of.

Another object is to provide an apparatus of this character in which thebeer may rem-ain for considerable periods of time, such as over night,Without going at or otherwise losing its desirable properties.

A further object is to provide an apparatus, as above mentioned, whichis so constructed as to facilitate the cleansing of the apparatus andthe preparation of the same for the actual dispensing of draft beer.

A still further object is to provide an apparatus that it issubst-antially unnecessary to withdraw and waste any of the beer inorder to get the same into the proper condition for sale.

An additional object is to provide an apparatus of this character whichis simple in construction and economical to manufacture.

Further and additional objects and advantages will appear hereinafterduring the following detailed description of two embodiments of theinvention which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, whereinFigure l is a vertical transverse sectional view through an apparatusrepresenting one embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 2--2 of Fig. l,looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating a slightly modifiedform of one of the structural details shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view of a modified form ofapparatus embodying the invention, certain portions being shown inelev-ation.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 4, and

Fig. 6 is a det-ail View of an attachment which may be used in theapparatus.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the apparatus is shown aspositioned within anice or coolof this character which is economical inuse inY ing container It which may be of any preferred construction andsuitably insulated, as is well understood in the art. As an example ofthe type of ice or cooling chamber that may be employed, reference ismade to the usual ice cham- 5 ber provided in service and other bars andthrough which ordinarily the conventional beer coils extend andare'connected to taps conveniently and accessibly located. It will beunderstood that the container l EI is filled with cracked 10 ice andthat the apparatus embodying the invention, as disclosed in Fig. l, issubstantially immersed in this cracked ice.

The apparatus comprises a beer receptacle or cooler EI, which, asillustrated, is substantially l5 cylindrical in shape and is preferablyformed of a casting of a suitable metal having the desired thermalchar-acteristics, light Weight, and which will not aiect the taste orquality of the beer, as for example an aluminum casting. The re- 20ceptacle II is externally threaded adjacent its open end, whereby it canbe closed by means of a suitable closure cap VI2 screwed thereon andhaving external ribs I 3 or other means, which maybe used as a handle tofacilitate the applica- 25 tion and removal of the closure cap to andfrom the receptacle. A suitable gasket I4 will, of

. course, be interposed between the end of the receptacle and theclosure cap.

The receptacle adjacent its closed or upper end 30 is provided with alaterally oiset extension I5 and, since the receptacle il is preferablyarranged in the container Ill at an angle, such as indicated in Fig. l,it will be seen that the voffset portion I5 provides a gas chamber I6 ofsubstan- 35 tial size above the maximum level of the beer line, as` willlater be referred to.

The receptacle II, as already stated, is arranged in the container I 0at an upwardly inclined angle and is supported by means of a 40 suitablesupport I'I fixed within the container and having at its upper end anarcuate portion I8 which ts and engages the exterior surfaceV of thereceptacle il. The support I'I may be formedrof any suitable metal andis preferably 45 provided with openings and constructed so as to makethesame light in weight. The receptacle H is further held in positionupon the arcuate portion I8 of the support I'I by the conduits connectedthereto and by the ice in which 50 it is immersed.

YThe keg which supplies the beer to the receptacle II and the usualpressure tank connected to the keg may be arranged in 4any suitable andusual place and the beer brought from the keg to the receptacle by meansof a conduit |9 connected to the receptacle by a suitable tting 20.

The receptacle adjacent its upper end but below the gas chamber isprovided with an inlet pipe 2| secured in the opening in the receptacleto which the fitting is likewise attached, such inlet pipe being curvedand extending inwardly, downwardly,.and then toward the wall of thereceptacle, as shown in Fig. l. The inlet pipe 2| is located on thelower side of the inclined receptacle whereby, as the beer enters thereceptacle through the pipe 2 it will strike the inclined wall of thereceptacle and flow down along the same, with the result that an excessof foam on the beer in the receptacle is avoided.

It will be seen that as the beer flows into the inclined receptacle anddown the lower wall thereof to the bottom the gases will rise toward thegas chamber |6 and, as the level of the beer in the receptacle increasesand reaches a level just above the inlet pipe 2|, as indicated in thedrawings, there gases will be compressed in the chamber IS and will actto eliminate all foam in the beer as do the gases which are compressedin the top of bottled beer, with the result that the receptacle willcontain only liquid beer free from .a head of foam. As soon as thecompressed gases in the chamber I6 attain a pressure equal to thepressure in the supply keg, the incoming flow of beer will cease untilthere is a withdrawal of beer.

The outlets from the receptacle are located adjacent the lower end ofthe receptacle wherefore the beer withdrawn from the receptacle willalways be taken from such end when the beer is liquid and free of foam.Although any number of outletsf might be provided for the receptacle,two outlets have been shown herein by way of illustration,

The receptacle at the points of outlet is provided with bosses 22 havingsuitable bores therethrough communicating with the interior of thereceptacle, which bores, adjacent the outer end of the bosses, areenlarged and threaded so as to receive the threaded end of suitableconnecting ttings 23 in turn connected to the outlet conduits 24. Thebore through one of the bosses 22 is cylindrical, while the bore throughthe other boss 22 is formed with a conical end 25 for a purpose later tobe explained. The outlet conduits 24 extend to suitable taps 26 locatedexteriorly of the container |0 in any desired and accessible position,but below the level of the gas chamber I6.

A tube 21 extends centrally and longitudinally of the receptacle and isprovided at its upper end and within the gas chamber I6 with an enlargedflared funnel-like portion 28, it being noted that the outer end of thisfunnel-like portion lies adjacent to, but spaced from, the closed end otthe receptacle, as indicated in Fig. l. The lower end of the tube 21 hasa hollow spherical portion 29 provided with openings 30 and withlaterally extending bosses 3| through which bores are provided. One ofthe bosses 3| is exteriorly threaded, wherefore a swivel connecting nut32 can be screwed thereon, such nut being carried by a short cylindricalpipe 33, the outer end of which extends into the cylindrical bore inoneof the bosses 22 and thus connects the tube 21 with one of the outletconduits 24. The bore through the other boss 3| is conical in shapeadjacent its outer end and receives the conical end of a short pipe 34,the other conical end of such pipe being received in the complementaryconical portion 25 of the bore through the other boss 22, whereby thesecond outlet conduit is connected to the tube 21.

The tube 21 carries adjacent its upper end and aproximately at the inletlevel a disk 21b which may be integrally formed with the tube or aseparate piece secured thereto. The disk 21b is for the purpose ofdeadening the foam on the rising beer in the receptacle.

The upper end of thel receptacle has a pair of openings formed thereinto one of which a suitable automatic blow-off valve 35 is connected andto the other of which a pet-cock may be connected, if desired, orpreferably a pipe 36 is connected and leads to a pet-cock 31 locatedexternally of the container l0 above the level of the inlet pipe 2| andin a convenient position to be operated by the bartender.

Assuming the receptacle has been positioned in the ice-iilled containerI0 and all of gases in the beer will accumulate in the gas chamber I6and the pressure of the gases in the chamber cannot exceed the desiredpressure, since the automatic blow-off valve 35 will immediatelyfunction, in case of an excess in pressure, to bring down the pressureto the proper amount. The pressure in the gas chamber should be equal tothe pressure in the keg with the result that when the beer has reachedapproximately the level indicated in the drawings the flow of incomingbeer will cease until there is a withdrawal of beer from the receptacle.

When either one, or both of the taps 26, are opened the beer will flowthrough the outlet conduits 24 fromv the tube 21 and the receptacle andwill contain the proper amount of gas, since the gases compressed in thegas chamber I6 will pass through the tube 21 and entrain with theoutgoing beer. The beer withdrawn from the receptacle will never be flatbeer, because of the mixture therewith of the gases, as just referredto. In fact, the beer may stand in the container indefinitely, so longas the proper pressure is maintained on the beer in the supply keg andwhen withdrawn will not be at.

Likewise, the apparatus just described eliminates the withdrawal andwaste of wild beer, as often occurswith the ordinary apparatus when anew keg. of beer has just been tapped. This elimination of wild beer isobtained through the use of the pet-cock 31 and the automatic blow-offvalve 35, since by these means the pressure in the receptacle can bequickly brought to the desired level, while the compression of the gasesin the chamber I6, as previously mentioned, will immediately reduce andeliminate the foam on the wild beer that has flowed into the receptacle.The disk 21b also acts to reduce the foam on the wild beer and toprovide liquid beer in the receptacle free from foam.

When it is desired to clean the receptacle the ttings connecting theconduits |9 and 24Y are disconnected from the receptacle, as is also thepipe 36 from the pet-cock 31, after which the receptacle is removed fromthe container I0. The cap l2 is then removed and the pipe 33 faz fpushed through the bore in the boss '22 and the tube 21 swung todisengage the end of the pipe 34 from its conical seat in the other boss3|, whereupon the tube 21 is swung back to withdraw the pipe 33 from theboss 3| and then removed from the receptacle, together with the pipe 33,the pipe 34 having been previously removed, after which the receptacleand associated parts may be readily and thoroughly cleaned in a veryshort space of time.

In Fig. 3 the tube 21'is shown as having its hollow spherical lower endV29 constructed somewhat differently from the construction shown inFigs. 1 and 2, in that the pipe 33a is an integral extension of thespherical portion 29, as distinguished from the separate pipe 33illustrated in Fig. 1. The other pipe 34a has a conical end seating in aconical portion of the bore through v the single boss 3 Ib; while theopposite end of the pipe 34is straight and is connected to the outletconduit similar to the outlet pipe 33 in the first mentioned form. i

` In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 4

and there isl illustrated, in place of the container I0, an electricalrefrigerating unit in which the beer receptacle is positioned. 'I'hisunit may comprise a suitable base 38 from which extends upwardly incircumferentially spaced relation posts 39 which support the coils 40.The receptacle 4| in this form of the invention is not arranged at anangle during use, but has its lower base portion 42 seated upon the base38 of the refrigerating unit. The receptacle 4|, however, has a portion43 of its side wall upwardly and outwardly inclined, which causes thecontainer to increaseV in cross-sectional area from its lower end towardits upper end, as clearly illustrated in the drawings.

The inlet pipe 2| is located adjacent the upper end of the upwardly andoutwardly inclined wall portion 43 of the receptacle with the resultlthat the incoming beer will flow down along such inclined wall portionand the same effect will be produced'as though the container weretilted. The upper end of the container, at a point remote from the inletand above the latter, is provided With an upward extension 44 forming agas chamber and into which extends the :dared funnel-like end 28a of thetube 21a. An opening is provided in the side wall of the extension 44and such opening has fitted thereto a suitable blowofi` valve 35a. In anopening formed in the top wall of the extension 44 a pet-cock may bedirectly secured,or the pipe 36 leading to the remote pet-cock 31 may besecured thereto.

The operation, cleansing, and other functions of the apparatus disclosedin Figs. 4 and 5 are identical with those of the apparatus shown in Fig.l and, therefore, further reference thereto herein is not necessary. Itshould be noted that the receptacle 4| could be used in the containerl0, as well as that the receptacle could be used with the refrigeratingunit shown in Fig, 4.

'I'he beers put out by diiferent breweries have differentcharacteristics, particularly with respect to wildness. Some beers arealways very gaseous and wild, while other beers are not so gaseous andare mild, as distinguished from wi1d".

Where a very wild beer is being served it is desirable to reduce thepassage through the tube 21 so that the beer withdrawn from thereceptacle will not receive the full effect of the gas confined in thegas chamber. Of course, the amount of reduction of the passage requiredwill be different for various beers. In the case of some beers noreduction will be necessary, while with other beers very substantialreductions will be in order.

Y As illustrative of one way in which the reduction of the passagethrough the tube may be accomplished, I propose to employ a number ofplugs which will fit in the upper end of the tube and which havepassages extending through them of various sizes. These plugs may beformed of any suitable material that will not affect the taste of thebeer and can be readily inserted in and removed from the upper end ofthe tube.

In Fig. 6 of the drawings one of these plugs 45 is illustrated in detailwhile in Fig. 4 the plug is shown in position inthe tube, it beingunderstood that the plug could be arranged also in the tube shown inFig. l.

The plug 45 has a stern which will have a tight fit in the tube and ahead which will be located in the ilared end 28a of the tube tofacilitate the insertion and removal of the plug. A passage 46 of thedesired size extends through the plug.

Preferably all of the fittings used to connect the various pipes andValves tc the receptacle are formed of bakelite or other insulatingmaterial to avoid.V electrolysis with a resultant undesirable taste inthe beer. Although several preferred embodiments of the invention havebeen illustrated and described herein, it should be understood that theinvention is not to be limited thereto, except in so far as it islimited by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A beer cooler comprising a receptacle having a portion at its upperend providing a gas chamber, a beer inlet pipe below said portion' butadjacent to the upper end of the receptacle and shaped to direct thebeer against the wall of the receptacle, a beer outlet pipe adjacent thebottom of the receptacle, and a tube connected with said outlet pipebelow the level of the beer inlet and extending into said gas chamber.

2. A beer cooler comprising a receptacle having a side wall inclinedwith respect to the vertical during use and being provided at its upperend with a portion forming a gas chamber, a beer inlet pipe below saidportion but adjacent to the upper end of the receptacle and shaped todirect the incoming beer against said inclined wall, a beer outlet pipeadjacent the lower end of the receptacle, and a tube extending from saidgas chamber and communicatively connected with said outlet p ipe withinthe receptacle.

3. A beer cooler comprising a receptacle having a portion at its upperend forming a gas chamber, a beer inlet pipe below said portion, a tubehaving its upper end extending into said gas chamber and its lower endprovided with an enlarged hollow portion having an opening thereincommunicating with the interior of the receptacle, and a beer outletpipe connected to and in communication with the enlarged hollow portionof said tube.

4. A beer cooler comprising a receptacle having a portion at its upperend forming a gas chamber and provided with a side wall inclined withrespect to the vertical during use of the receptacle, a beer inlet pipeextending into the receptacle below said gas chamber and shaped todirect the incoming beer against said inclined wall, a tube in saidreceptacle having its upper end extending into said gas chamber andprovided at its lower end adjacent the bottom of the receptacle with anenlarged hollow porytion'having an "opening therein, and a beer outletpipe connected to said hollow portion andincommunication therewith.

5. A beer cooler comprising a receptacle adapted to be arranged at anangle to the vertical during use and provided at its upper end with alaterally extending portion forming an enlarged gas chamber, a beerinlet pipe below said gas chamber and shaped to direct beer against thelower inclined wall of the receptacle, means for venting said gaschamber, a beer outlet pipe adjacent the lower end of the receptacle,and a tube having its upper end in communication with the gas chamberand its lower end in communication with said outlet pipe and saidreceptacle.

6. A beer dispensing apparatus comprising, in combination, a coolantcontainer, a receptacle for the beer arranged in said container, asupport in said container for supporting said receptacle at an angleinclined to the vertical, said receptacle having at its upper end a gaschamber and a beer inlet pipe below said charnber, means for ventingsaid chamber extending to a point exteriorly of the container, a beeroutlet pipe connected to said receptacle adjacent its lower end andextending to a point exteriorly of the container and below said inletpipe, and a tube within said receptacle having its upper end incommunication with said gas chamber and its lower end in communicationywith said 'outlet pipe and said receptacle.

7. A beer dispensing apparatus comprising, in combination, a coolingunit for the beer, a receptacle arranged within said unit and having aportion forming a gas chamber at its upper end, a beer inlet pipe belowsaid portion, means for venting said gas chamber controlled fromexteriorly ofthe unit, a beer outlet pipe connected to said receptacleadjacent its lower end and extending to a point exteriorly of the unitand below the inlet pipe, and a tube within said receptacle having itsupper end located in said gas chamber and its lower end connected tosaid outlet pipe and in communication therewith andfwith saidreceptacle.

8..A ybeer :cooler comprising 'a receptaclezhaving a portion .of itssidewall inclined withfrespect to the vertical and its upper endprovided with a portion forming a gas chamberya beerinlet'pipe carriedby said inclined wall belowsaid gas chamber and shaped todirect the beeragainst said wall, a beer outlet pipe connected to the receptacleadjacent itslower end, and a tubeiin said receptacle having its upperend locatedin said gas chamber and its lower end connected to saidoutlet pipe and in communication therewith and with said receptacle.

9. A beer cooler comprising a receptacle having a portion at its upperend forming .a 'gas chamber, a beer inlet pipe below saidportion, a tubeextending from said gas chamber to adjacent thelower end of thereceptacle, a disk on Ysaid tube-,adjacent to but below said gas;chamber, and abeer outlet pipe in communication'wth said receptacleandthelower endrof said tube.

10. A beer cooler comprisinga receptacleyhaving a portion of its sidewall inclined withrespect to the vertical and its upper end providedwith an extended portion forming a gas chamber, a beer inlet pipecarried by the receptacle below said gas chamber and shaped to directthe beer against said inclined wall, a. beer outlet pipe connected tothe receptacle adjacent its lower end, a tube in said receptacle havingits upper end located in said gas chamber and its lower end connected tosaid outlet pipe and `in communication therewith and with saidreceptacle. and a disk arranged on said tube below but adjacent to itsupper end.

l1.. A beer cooler comprising a receptaclehaving a portion at its upperend providing a gas chamber, a beer inlet pipe below said portion, abeer outlet pipe adjacent the bottom of the receptacle, a tube connectedwith said outlet pipe below the level of the beer inlet and extendinginto said gas chamber, and a plug arranged in said tube and having apassage extending through it.

AUGUST L. VOIGHT.

